KATHMANDU: Former Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba has decided not to attend the 15th general convention of the party’s establishment faction, which begins today.
The Nepali Congress had invited Deuba to attend and inaugurate the convention. A formal invitation was delivered to Deuba’s residence in Maharajgunj on Saturday by a team of party leaders, including Joint General Secretary Yogendra Chaudhary. The invitation letter, signed by party President Gagan Thapa, requested Deuba’s participation in the inaugural ceremony.
However, Deuba is not scheduled to attend the convention, according to leader Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat.
“During my conversation, there was no discussion about accepting the invitation to the inaugural session,” Mahat said. “That is why Deuba is spreading misinformation that he will attend. He will not attend the inauguration.”
The Deuba faction, which has been conducting parallel activities within the party, has not recognized Gagan Thapa as Nepali Congress president. Deuba was elected party president at the 14th general convention, when Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Gagan Thapa served as general secretaries.
Following the Gen-Z movement, the Nepali Congress held a special general convention in the last week of December and elected Thapa as party president. However, the Deuba faction has rejected the legitimacy of that convention.
Most party leaders have now joined the 15th general convention organized by the Thapa-led establishment faction. However, leaders regarded as close to Deuba, including Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh, Ramesh Lekhak and Bimalendra Nidhi, remain aligned with him.
The Deuba faction has also begun preparations for a separate general convention process.
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